GCC Labels UNRWA a ‘Lifeline’ for Millions of Palestinians Amid Israeli Conflict.

New york: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating conditions faced by Palestinians as a result of the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza. The GCC condemned the prolonged Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territories, emphasizing the critical role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a 'lifeline' for millions of affected individuals. According to Jordan News Agency, this statement was delivered by the Permanent Qatari Delegation to the United Nations on behalf of the GCC. The address was made during discussions on Item 59 concerning the "permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources" at the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly's 79th session. The GCC highlighted the findings of a report presented to the Second Committee, which outlined the severe impact of the Israeli conflict on the humanitarian and living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. The report detailed the tragic loss of more than 40,000 lives, predominantly women and children, due to Israeli military actions. Furthermore, the GCC emphasized the dire situation faced by children in the Gaza Strip, who are suffering from severe consequences such as hunger, the spread of diseases, and high malnutrition rates. The statement also noted the challenges faced by pregnant women and newborns, who are deprived of essential healthcare services due to the destruction of hospitals and the shutdown of healthcare centers.